The dominant force in New Hampshire Division I wrestling did not disappoint on Saturday.
The Salem High Blue Devils dominated the day with a pair of champs, three runners-up and 12 placers overall to roll to their second straight Division I state title.
Salem got championships from Dominic Murphy at 113 and Brody McDonald to easily outdistance itself from runner-up Timberlane Regional, 234-207.
“It was a total team effort with 12 of the 14 guys placing. and the other two guys who didn’t place contributed as well, going 2-2 and getting bonus points as well,” said coach Nick Eddy.
Denied in the D-I state finals last year, there was no stopping McDonald this time around.
“I’m just very happy for Brody after coming up short last year,” said Eddy of McDonald’s second career state title run.
For Murphy, the win was extremely rewarding as he took off weight during the offseason – just to earn a spot in the varsity lineup.
It takes a village to win state titles – Salem now has nine overall – and this year’s squad certainly had its share of guys stepping up.
“I can’t say enough about Zander Wood and Jimmy Nelson,” said Eddy. “Wood was an unseeded freshman, who is in the lineup because he is filling in for Mark Leone, who is injured. Taking fifth (and moving on to next week’s Meet of Champions) after coming in unseeded was great.
“And Nelson struggled early in the year at heavyweight. We made the switch with him and (285-pounder Tyler) Pavidis, and it worked out for both of them.”
Both Blue Devils delivered sixth-place finishes.
The Owls, who had their streak of state team titles snapped by Salem a year ago, ended a mini-drought of their own when Ben Mann claimed the championship at 106 pounds. Last year at D-I states, Timberlane did not place one wrestler at the top of the podium.
Pinkerton Academy, which took fourth overall, had a pair of title winners in Camden Arbogast at 132 and Anthony Caruso at 215 pounds.
Windham High, which finished seventh, saw Constantine Isaac take home the gold at 165.
Big effort by Pythons
Pelham High traveled to Bow for the Division III states and came home in second, behind the host team.
The Pythons claimed a pair of individual titles with Liz Donovan winning at 126 pounds and Michael Harrington cruising to the 144-pound championship.
Both are in the highest of company, three-time state champions, for the Pythons.
Pelham had 13 wrestlers in action, and all 13 scored points, allowing the Pythons to post their highest point total in the event since 2001, according to coach Bob Riddinger.
NEW HAMPSHIRE DIVISION I
AREA PLACERS 106: 1. Ben Mann (T); 4. Maddox Boudreau (S)
113: 1. Dominic Murphy (S); 3 Peter Morrisey (T)
120: 1. Brody McDonald (S); 2. Talon Oljey (T); 4. Henry Palmer (W); 6. Aiden Doyle (P)
126: 2. Spencer Buscema (S); 3. Liam McGrail (W); 5. Mason Beaudin (P)
132: 1. Camden Arbogast (P); 3. Evan Lynch (S); 6. Joseph Consalvo (T)
138: 2. Caleb O’Rourke (S); 3. Lance Bordeleau (P); 5. Colton Seuss (T); 6. Nick Russell (W)
144: 2. Cam Monahan (S); 3. Jacob Andrade (T); 5. Tyler Tokanel (W)
150: 3. Dylan Suliveras (W)
157: 2. Evan Landry (P); 3. Cole Abel (T); 4. Jason Belkus (S)
165: 1. Constantine Isaac (W); 5. Nels DeAlmeida (‘P)
175: 3. Danny Hughes (S); 4. Kyle Lindblad (T); 6. Landon Mackiernan (P)
190: 2. Spencer Sierra (T); 3. Tom Lacroix (P); 5. Zander Wood (S)
215: 1. Anthony Caruso (P); 4. Ryan Kontos (T); 6. Jimmy Nelson (S)
285: 4. James Caruso (P); 6. Tyler Pavidis (S)
NEW HAMPSHIRE DIVISION III
PELHAM HIGH PLACERS 106: 3. Lex Kieran
113: 4. Hunter Knight
126: 1. Liz Donovan
138: 3. Ben Maslanek
144: 1. Michael Harrington
150: 4. Nathan Maslanek
165: 3. Joel Llibre
175: 2. Billy Nicolls
190: 3. Russell Leonard